69 Camaro - The Hard Way
 

Thanks for checking out the thread. I wanted a place to put all of my pictures and document the build. I also wanted a place to ask questions and gain some motivation from other car freaks.

So quick back story... This is my first car. Bought it in 95 for $3800. Those were the days right? Complete running car, everything worked 12 bolt rearend.

Come to find out the car was somewhat of a basket case but I learned a lot working on it. Stripped the thing down in 99 to paint it and discovered some nasty quarter panel repair work. Ended up slapping bondo on it because I didn't have the money to change the panels back then.

After paint in 99 -
https://i.imgur.com/gu6UeSb.jpg

In 2003 I took the car apart because the bondo on the quarter panels was cracking, the valve stem seals were leaking, and I thought it would be cool to put a Global west coil over front suspension in the car.
Of course I took the car apart and lost most of the pieces and here I am 10 years later trying to put it all back together again. [s]I’m not made of money nor do I own a shop so this is just a guy building a car the best he can in his garage.[/s] [EDIT]<--- I gave up building the car and let Roy finish it. You probably aren’t going to see anything earth shattering on this car but a lot of threads like this one have helped me out so hopefully this one will do the same for someone else.

Anyway, on to the good stuff (pics)…

Back from the black hole of one shop (7years) into the black hole of another (2 years)

https://i.imgur.com/NHWBbhR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/6Jshr2n.jpg

Home finally after nearly a 10 year journey - 10 years to get the quarter panels changed and the Chris Alston Chassisworks rear suspension installed

https://i.imgur.com/hCqOTZ5.jpg

General direction of the car thus far-

Minitubbed 18x12 & 18x9.5 wheels - 335 and 265 tires
14" C6 front brakes - LS1 rear brakes (for the time being)
G Link rear suspension
RideTech’s true turn
355 roller motor, carbed, dart heads, made 490 on the dyno with full accessories. Dynatech headers
Magnum T56 trans. 3.90 rear end
Ricks stainless gas tank
No decision on the radiator
AAW wiring harness. Mad electrical components - rear mounted battery.
Recaro seats out of a an Is 3 series BMW

Excellent start man. I can relate to the long build process. Hoping to gain speed soon.

Where are you located? Camaro Concepts has helped me out quite a bit as well and did all the metal work on mine. Cant wait to see the progress on the car. Idea on what final color will be?

Yup I can relate alot as well, good luck man you came to the right site. :thumbsup:

Thanks guys.

I guess I should say that I've gotten most of the above stuff done and will be posting pics of things as I have time.

as far as color I bounce back and forth between
1. all black
2. Dark gray
3. Fathom Green

no stripes

Currently she sits about like this

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps7f7d94ad.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps11c4315e.jpg

Nice project

Where are you located? Wheels look good! Dark metallic gray would be very cool (Like GM Cyber Gray).

William

I'm inside the loop near downtown

I guess I will start with the front suspension

I have the ridetech setup, full uppers, lowers, springs, shocks, swaybar, and tru-turn.
I bought all that and the 600 box through Frank at prodigy about a year and a half ago. I think he forgot about the order for a month or two but I started pestering him and it finally shipped out and I got it. I wasn’t in a hurry so it worked out ok. Interesting how that guy went from pro-touring hero to heel in about a year.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps63b0fd1c.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps2efe9c7f.jpg

On the fit/finish/install of the ridetech stuff I’d probably give it a B. I had to hack away the bump stops on the frame to get the sway bar to work.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd8ae342b.jpg

I also feel like the threaded end of the rod links provided in the drag link kit were too long. I don’t know, maybe I’m missing something. One of the bolts provided that attach the drag link to the adaptor did not have a hole for a cotter pin.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf53378e5.jpg

The dynatech muscle max headers cleared the tru-turn and fit really well except where the #7 tube hits the gear box. I’m currently working on that with a grinder, a torch and a hammer.

No Picture of that right now

Honestly if I could go back I would probably order a TCI subframe. For a little more than what I have in the current setup I could have gotten a complete subframe. Something to think about.

Looks like a great project, and you appear to have the worst behind you.
Keep the pics coming

great start and really love those wheels

William, I'm also an Ag. where are you located?

Excellent to have someone so close man. Great looking build so far! I was up in the woodlands but currently looking for town homes in downtown/midtown area. Recently single and ready to get back into the more fun area of town :) Definitely gives me more cash for my build.

Currently I'm in Cyprus/Israel for work. I'll be back in about a month or so.

Quite a few car guys in Houston. If you ever need a hand hit me up and I'll see what I can do. Should have quite a bit of my own car project stuff going down come closer to summer (GAP Racing - new vendor here) has my car and is doing the chassis work, then goes off to paint. Check out my build thread :)

William

Great project!!! I am also near downtown (Medical Cntr)... I am also working on my 69 Camaro Z28RS (true ZRS) I am putting my car back together right now, DSE tubs DSE subframe connectors,DSE Quadralink and their 9" rearend.. C6Z06 brakes, upper and lower control arms, AFX spindles, coilovers, LS3/TR6060, Fikse Profil 5S race black center, polished lip, 18x12 rears, 18x9 front.. originally Daytona yellow, so I went back to the same minus the stripes..... Good to see more people here from HOU....

nice to meet you guys. I had no idea there were other people around here building PT cars.

I'd love to get together and check out yall's rides one saturday.

Very good friend of mine posts on here occasionally and is in the Woodlands (Nineball). He's working on a 69 SS Convertible. It's at GAP with mine getting the panel work done. Both our cars were originally hugger orange and going back the same.

SIXX your car sounds like my build :) Definitely need to get together and scope the cars. Happy to have people in the area that are of similar interest and building these cars.

William

Grl0212, when I started on my DSE mini tubs in 2005-2006, I didn't know of anyone doing a PT here in Hou.. Yes, we will have to get together on a weekend..
Will, I know Tony back from when he used to hangout at MTI when Jeff Mandery a really good friend of mine used to run the shop and the inventor of the LS cold air lid.. Pecos from LME was still at MTI and had a yellow 69 Camaro TT.. We do have similar builds, the only thing I may not do on mine will be a roll cage...

Jon

Excellent. I met Tony through LS1tech and he hired me out of college. I haven't been in Houston that long (2008) but no plans to depart and just getting into my car build. Hardest part is saving up to buy everything with cash.

Will, totally understand on saving money as I have done everything myself minus the paint and body.. Now if I can put my 99 Hugger SS white leather for sale, I can have spare change to spend.. I don't think I will have a hard time selling it as it is a manual trans, never been in rain and barely 37,000 miles on the car, still smells new..

Yea, will be selling my 2010 soon to help fund this build. Will be doing more of the build soon. No body work for me, and chassis shop doing a lot of the subframe stuff. Getting welded into the car.

Wish I was in the market for a HOSS. I sold the one I had 3-4 years ago. Mine was a higher mileage one with LS6 and saw LOTS of track time at TWS...

William

Brakes - Front brakes are from Tobin at Kore3. Can’t say enough good things about this guy. He was available to answer my questions and was more than willing to help me out every way he could.

Nothing really to report. Everything bolted up as expected. The only problem I have is when I got the tires mounted they put a valve stem on the inner hoop which hits the brakes when the wheel rotates.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps63b0fd1c.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5c794897.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps0e5dd094.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps3c2ed476.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6dd58b70.jpg

Engine/Trans

I really wanted an LSX motor but couldn’t justify it since I had already purchased this 350. In my defense, I bought it in 2005 and had no idea the car was going to take another 7 years to make it home. Luckily it still runs well after sitting in storage. I guess 490HP is nothing to sneeze at… but then again its not a 600HP fuel injected motor either.

I bought a Magnum trans from American Powertrain. These guys were ok but I’ll probably give hurst a shot on the next go around. Not really a fan of the slave cylinder setup and the idea of pulling the trans to make adjustments after break in (per the instructions). Overall they had decent service, only slight beef I have is that I got the feeling at one point they were trying to scam me on the shifter but they made things right quickly after I called and did the WTF thing.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps40ba27e1.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9d46eff3.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse3ababc5.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps06f17377.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps489c2828.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa02dd655.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbdd7a509.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps89020a61.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse4d73416.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps84884959.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9c2b73e6.jpg

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6e2dd637.jpg

Subscribed. Off to a really good start. I'm also in Houston. Pearland to be exact.

so update on the dynatech headers.

Apparently the headers are made for heads that are 18-1/8" from flange to flange. The dart heads i have are just over 1/2" wider, hence the clearance issues with the gear box. I talked to the dynatech rep and he was helpful. I suggested they move the 7 tube back in around 1/4" we will see what they say.

So that doesn't help me now so it looks like i may end up with a Borgenson steering joint to get the clearance I need.

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa9cf1e36.jpg

here is the "special" tool i made so I could get to a couple of the bolts

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps1768c7d8.jpg

The other thing i'm working on is the fuel pump.

I have a carter 172gph but I'm wondering if the diaphragm has deteriorated since it sat for 5 years. I put the suction side in a gas tank and the discharge into a bucket and turned the engine over but got 0 flow.

It appeared there was some fuel in the pump but nothing came out the line.

disappointing

I'm going to connect the pump to the carb and fill the bowl, crank it and see if it makes 5psi.

if that doesn't work I'm going to get a 20$ stock pump and see if that one works.

They don't make the carter 172 pump anymore so I have no idea if i can get a rebuild for it.

any recs for a high flow pump?

I thought Edelbrock bought Carter in the 1990's. Did you check out their catalog for a rebuild kit?

I think there are two different companies named carter.

Anyway, got it running. I had to loosen the pump to assemble the fittings and must have dropped the rod. Fixed it and it started like a champ.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujn7...e_gdata_player

Glad you got it running. Have to love the easy fixes.

Video Sounds like the microphone didn't deal with the exhaust note very well but I liked what I could distinguish... mean sounding idle.
Pretty sacreligous shop t-shirt for firing up the sbc dontcha think? :bitchslap:
:lol:

Sounds Sweet!!

Car is looking great. Keep us posted!!

What combo do you have making 490?

I really wanted an LSX motor but couldn’t justify it since I had already purchased this 350. In my defense, I bought it in 2005 and had no idea the car was going to take another 7 years to make it home. Luckily it still runs well after sitting in storage. I guess 490HP is nothing to sneeze at… but then again its not a 600HP fuel injected motor either

There's nothing wrong with that old school small block! And your right 490hp is bad azz stay with it!

It seems to be my lucky shirt, things work better when I wear it.

The sound is terrible once it revs up. I'm guessing too much echo in the garage for the phone camera. I'll try another on from outside the garage and behind the car next time.

Looking good! Love those wheels, are they iforged seneka's?

4.030 BLOCK
BRONZE LIFTER BUSHINGS
4 BOLT SPLAYED CALLIE CAPS
COLA CRANK 3.480 STROKE
EAGLE 5.7 H BEAM RODS WITH L-19 BOLTS
TRW LIGHTWEIGHT PISTONS 1/16 1/16 3/16 RINGS
ISKY RR 575-8 ROLLER 244@50 5.75
CRANE ROLLER LIFTERS
DART PRO HEADS – FULL PORT 300CFM
MANLEY 2.055/1.6 SEVERE DUTY VALVES
ISKY 9205 SPRINGS/TITANIUM RETAINERS
CRANE GOLD ROCKERS 1.5 RATIO STUD GIRDLE
BRODIX INTAKE
DAVINCI STAGE 3 750 CARB – FLOWS 930

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/17236298/Dyno_chart%20small.jpg

Can someone tell me how to resize pictures using these [IMG] tags?

They are. I got them from Tony Whatley.

Any pics of the fathom green camaro? Mine was a fathom green car as well.

Sorry, no pics. I got it back in, I think '88, when I was in high school. I didn't take any pics of it stock. I first had it painted metallic blue w/white rally strips, then had it totally redone in corvette yellow with a custom black and yellow interior I designed with Cadillac cloth. Last drove it 18 years ago on my wedding night. It was in storage, waiting to be restored to the original Fathom green, when I lost it in a storage fire several years ago.

I really think you should paint yours Fathom Green, it's a fantastic color you don't see much. I just didn't appreciate it back in high school. I love it now.

New parts came today

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...pse44de1ed.jpg

The excitement was somewhat tempered when I realized the magnaflow exhaust was 2.5" and my collectors were 3". Details details... nothing 125 dollars won't fix.

Here is the radiator test fit

http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/a...psdeba38bb.jpg

I am also working on running the brake lines across the rear end.

I'll try to get a picture of that to post once it gets done and before it goes back in